Lawsonia ,your profits in the slurry?

Infection with Lawsonia can cause diarrhea and diarrhea costs growth. But did you know that Lawsonia infection can also increase without giving diarrhea?

In connection with a diarrhea outbreak, the number of bacteria in the fertilizer is high. In a Danish study, in 20 herds of weaners, manure samples were taken for diarrhea outbreaks, where the farmer would herd treatment with antibiotics. The number of Lawsonia, E. coli and B. pilosicoli bacteria in the samples was between 5,000 and 1.5 billion per grams of fertilizer. The study formed the basis for the current recommendations on the assessment of sock samples, which indicate that a total bacterial count of more than 35,000 is very likely to require treatment.

UP TO 15 Euro / PIG IN LOST GROWTH

The importance of a high number of bacteria for productivity is very poorly elucidated for E. coli and B. pilosicoli. In contrast, for Lawsonia, there are several studies both from home and abroad that show a link between increasing amounts of bacteria in the fertilizer and reduced growth. A Danish study from 2013 investigated the Lawsonia excretion of pigs with low or high growth within the individual herd. The study found that low-growth pigs excreted Lawsonia in quantities of 1 million or more per gram of fertilizer, while high-growth pigs had lower excretion. The difference between pigs with 'low' and 'high' daily growth over the 6-8 week observation period was 173-694 g / day depending on herd. 

"IF THE LAWSONIA'S INFECTION PRESSURE IS HIGH, THE GROWTH MAY BE AFFECTED NEGATIVELY, EVEN THERE IS NO DIARY."

ABSENCE OF DIARRE = OPTIMAL GROWTH

Another Danish study has shown that growth is more affected if pigs with a high level of Lawsonia bacteria in the gut also have diarrhea. Thus, pigs with aqueous diarrhea and more than 1 million Lawsonia bacteria / g fertilizer grew only around 250 g / day, while pigs without diarrhea but with the same number of Lawsonia bacteria grew 600 g / day. From here, however, there were still 100 g / day up to the approx. 700 g / day which pigs without either diarrhea or Lawsonia bacteria in the gut could perform. if the infection pressure of Lawsonia is high enough, growth may be adversely affected, even if no diarrhea is seen. 

A Canadian study found a lower growth rate in pigs infected with as little as 10,000 Lawsonia bacteria. At the age of 4 to 7 weeks, the pigs grew only 250 g / day compared to 400 g / day for non-infected pigs. The same study also found that feed consumption was affected. Despite the relatively low level of infection, the pigs had a feed consumption of 2.07 kg of feed / kg of growth compared with 1.63 kg / kg for non-infected pigs. Worse, it looked like pigs infected with 1 million Lawsonia bacteria. These pigs grew only 237 g / day and had a feed consumption of 2.24 kg / kg.

"Despite the relatively low level of infection, the pigs had a feed consumption of 2.07 kg feed / kg growth compared to 1.63 kg / kg for non-infected pig"

So it might be worth spending time and money to get an overview of the level of Lawsonia occurrence in your herd. Eg. you and your consultant can carefully choose when and which pigs from which sock samples are to be taken and assess the result based on a consideration of when growth can be expected to be affected. There may be money to be made in an improved control strategy.

Do you think you have lawsonia or are your pigs not growing 

Contact us at

http://pfms.mozello.com/contact/